Do you rely on news or other endorsements in local elections

There are always a smattering of races I don't feel I know enough about to make a good independent decision.

In Seattle I generally use The Stranger and The Weekly endorsements. I agree with them often enough that I think they're a good guide to where I'd want my vote to go.

I do read their REASONING for their endorsements, and at times disagree. And I've certainly disagreed about City Council elections. But overall I think they're a safe bet.

I'm not the only one looking for guidance - am I?

join service organizations, get to know your NGOs, get to know the people who get stuff done in your town. And then become one of them. I look at my ballot every year and see people I've met and have to come to know. After all, they live here just as I do and we gotta live with what we make.

Much more satisfying than just railing against * and thinking you're involved in politics. :)

ever since the publisher got his opinion
stenoed in the first editorial I've moved
away from relying on any opinion they editorialize on.

One, always vote straight line democratic. Two, in Oklahoma, for non-partisan races I rely on guidance of the Oklahoma Observer, owned and edited by Frosty Troy, as true a believer as you can find, helluva reporter and journalist. He's absolutley loathed by Inhofe, Coburn, Watts, Keating, Nickles, and all the other asshole repugs "from" around here, which is endorsement enough for me of his views.

google them

check them on Newsmeat.com

annnnd, i email them and ask their positions on things.

fer instance: our teachers' assn. endorsed three candidates.

i had emailed each of the 8 folks running and asked them their position on teaching ID / creationism in our schools. Turns out one of the candidates running is for teaching ID in our schools and 'letting the students decide' . this, to me, is an example of a fundie going forth to establish the fundie position at the grassroots.

the probability of ID being taught in our school district is small. BUT the current school board ( five seats ) has two fundies already seated and as well as another republican. this group has kicked PFLAG as well as Planned Parenthood off our campuses.

when i told the teachers who came to my door that they were backing a fundie, they were shocked. too late. the endorsements have gone out to every teacher in the district.

current. And I ask my local friends.

Good question. :hi:

It was discovered some county Democrat members on BOE's are Democrat In Name Only (DINO's). Please carefully do your research. For example, I am willing to bet if you called Democrat chairs in Ohio, many would tell you to vote No on our election reform issues 2-5. Some chairs are progressive, but others do not do their homework. They rely on information that may be passed down the line from DINO's. To fix our system we must fix our local parties. Research, research, research! It is always a good hint to look at what the Republicans recommend as far as issues......Republicans in Ohio say Yes to Issue 1, No to Issues 2-5.......so what does that tell you about the issues? Those Democrats ignoring these issues, are highly suspect of corruption. Political activism means more than just attending meetings and nodding your head.

In regard to news paper endorsements, I would have to be sure it was a liberal and corrupt free newspaper ownership. In a day long ago and far away we used to be able to rely on Unions to endorse candidates and issues that would support causes of the American middle class and poor. No longer is that the case. Much to the thanks of Ronald Reagan for taking the first steps to breaking the Unions by firing the air traffic controllers. That was our first ride on the spiral downward to where we are today. The next was not paying enough attention to our party to ensure we were free of the same corruption that is in power today.

No, don't flame me for attacking the Democrat Party. I am not attacking the party as a whole. I am just saying we need to clean up our party and oust the corrupt players. And, now is the time!